Display device



Jan. 24,,193-9.- w. GERTH DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 4, 1936' IINVENTOR, eyyaffi MM ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE of Rhode Island Application February 4, 1986, Serial No. 62,305

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a display device more particularly for displaying merchandise which is considered as containing a set of a definite number of articles to be displayed; and has for one 5 of its objects the provisions of a display device whichv may be arranged in many difierent appearances that the one which will best fit in with the artistic arrangement of the seller of the merchandise may be had.

Another object of the invention is' the provision of a display device which may display a set of articles as a unit or may be broken up to display the articles separately or in various arrangements.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a display device for a set of twelve birthstone rings each representing a month of the year, the arrangement being such that all the rings may be displayed together in a usual formation or the individual containers of these rings or pairs of rings may be separated and arranged in various formations to match up to an ornamental modernistic scheme of a display window or case where other articles are displayed.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display arranged in a single container and compactly housed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the units which are grouped together in the unit container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the many arrangements which the unit may be made to take for the purposes of artistic display of the mechandise;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a somewhat modified form of unit in a container with a cover on the container;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the unit shown in Fig. 4 and of the modified construction;

6 is a perspective view of a modified form of unit.

In a display of jewelry merchandise, it is usual to have some sort of a tray or structure which is fixed and will show the merchandise in one particular arrangement with the articles displayed all together in such particular grouping. In the case of articles, such as birthstones where twelve rings go to make up a set, each stone representing a month of the year, should some of these rings be missing because of their recent sale, the general form of the display is marred by such absence, and this is particularly noticeable where a large number of the rings are missing in the display; and in order to improve upon display devices for merchandise of this particular character, I a have provided individual units, each unit being adapted to contain but one or two of the rings to be shown and these units being such that they may be arranged in different forms of artistic presentation so that many pleasing effects may be in:

had and should one of the units which contain two of the rings be empty, the unit may be taken out of the display so that the display will not be marred by the absence of rings in their accustomed place. rings in a unit be missing, the remaining ring may be moved over to the center to be itself alone displayed. Further, the arrangement is such under some circumstances, the rings will be below the top surface or no higher than the top surface 20 of the unit carrying them, so that when placed together in a box the cover may be placed on the box for convenience in shipping and for holding the rings firmly in their places in the individual units in which they are mounted; and the -35- following is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, [0 designates one of the individual units a plurality of which fit within the container 1 I. This unit consists of a generally rectangular block out out intermediate its ends as at i2 to provide a recess, with surfaces on the top of the block as at l3 and M at t": either end thereof for the reception of suitable label l5 for designation of the merchandise to be displayed. Within this recess l2 a pair of members l6 and ll are provided forming a slot or recess l8 between them, which members are cov- 40 ered with some sort of a plush or pile fabric the outer side surface 26 of which lies substantially flush with the side surface 21 of the block and extends over the top surface of the member and inwardly along the inner surface of the recess or 45 slot it, thus there is provided by this formation a structure particularly adapted for the receptic-n of a finger ring 23 which may be inserted in the recess or slot l8 and held by the friction of the fabric firmly in position. 50

Each of the units has its slot 18 of a length suffic ent to receive two rings side by side, as shown in Fig. 2, while the labels l5 on the surfaces It and M will state the month and the stone which represents said month of each of the rings 55 Then again, should one of two 25- the ring 23 has a ruby gem 24 which is representative of July, while the ring 25 has a peridot gem 26 which is representative of August also displayed on the label 2'! on the surface I4. Thus I provide the rings for two months in one of the units l0 and I provide six of these units each containing the rings for two months, which six units together snugly fit within the container l I, as shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the blocks or units [0 is coated with paper or some other protective and ornamental covering, such as paint or the like, which may be of a metal color, such as silver or gold, to match the rings displayed, while the fabric in which the rings are mounted and which acts as a contrasting background is usually of a dark color, such as black, although other colors may be used. The same ornamental covering or coating of paper or paint will also be applied to the container i i so that the surfaces i3 and I4 which are exposed will nicely. harmonize therewith and provide a unified ornamental theme which will represent a very attractive display in the container H.

In some instances, however, it may be desirable to arrange the units differently for a matter of variety or contrast or to more effectively display the merchandise; and I have shown in Fig. 3 the individual block unit it as arranged in an echelon relation, two series of three each,

but many other various designs or arrangements maybe made, as will be readily apparent to one familiar with artistic arrangements.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the members which receive and hold the ring as having less height. These members 30 and 3! are formed in substantially the same manner with a plush fabric covering 32 and together provide the slot 33 between them. However, in this case when a ring as 34 is inserted the top surface or edge of the ring 35 will be below or no higher than the surfaces 53 and M which are in a single plane and thus the ring will be protected when being shipped. A cover as 36 having its top wall 3'! and side walls 38 telescoping with the sides of the container II to provide an effective enclosure for all of the units which closely fit together in the box when formed, as shown in Fig. 5; and thus by this slight variation I may adapt the unit better in some cases to one use than another.

In the showing in Figure 6 I have arranged the slots 46 for the rings at either side of the center block 4! and have curved the ends of the unit as at 42 to provide a more artistic appearance; various designs may of course be had.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display device for a set of twelve birthstone rings, one for each month of the year, comprising a box-like container, six individual separable units in said container, each comprising a body of generally rectangular shape having an article receiving recess of a length to receive two rings side by side, a fabric covering the opposite engaging walls of said recess for engaging the opposite sides of the ring, surfaces presented at either side of said recess of a height at least equal to the top of the rings when held in the slot I8; thus there is shown in Fig. 2 that in said recess, and a cover for said container for completely housing the units and the rings therein and adapted to engage said surfaces and firmly hold the units in place when in said container and covered by said cover.

2. A display device comprising a box-like container having upstanding side walls, a removable cover adapted to telescope over said side walls, and a plurality of rows of individual separable units of uniform size fitting into said container and held together by the side walls of the container, each of said units comprising a block having a recess which extends entirely across the top of the block and formed intermediate of its ends, and a pair of opposed members in said recess providing a slot between them centrally of the block and extending longitudinally thereof for the reception of a plurality of articles to be displayed side by side, the outer sides of said members being substantially flush with the adjacent side of the block, said units of each row having their adjacent sides abutting and the recesses in register when positioned within said container, said recess being of suflicient depth to afford a space for accommodating the top portion of the article to be held in said slot so that when the article is so held it will project no higher than the top of the block whereby the units when in said container may be engaged and held firmly by the cover of the box in its closed position.

3. A display package comprising a box-like container having upstanding side walls, a removable cover adapted to fit over and around the side walls of said container, and a plurality of individual removable receptacle units for displaying jewelry adapted to closely fit within said container and fill the same when placed together therein, and with their tops substantially flush with the top of the side walls of the container, each of said receptacle units having a cut out portion the bottom of which is longitudinally slotted to receive and hold a piece of jewelry, one or more pieces of jewelry in said slot, said out out portion being of sufficient depth that the extreme top limits of said jewelry when supported in said recess will extend upwardly no higher than the top surface of the receptacle unit adjacent said out out portion so that the units when placed together in said box shaped container will be held firmly in place by the cover of the box.

4. A display unit for jewelry, comprising an elongated body having two portions of different height adjacent each other in a longitudinal direction of the body, the portion of greater height being of generally cubical shape, and the smaller portion comprising a pair of opposed holding members providing a slot between them for the reception of an article of jewelry to be displayed and adapted to resiliently hold the same, the difference in height between said portions being sufficient to afford a space for accommodating the top portion of the article to be held in the slot 50 that when the article is so held the top portion thereof will extend upwardly no higher than the top of the highest portion of the body.

5. A display unit for jewelry, comprising a body of a generally rectangular shape having portions thereof of different height arranged in succes sion in a longitudinal direction of the body, the top of said body being cut out intermediate its ends across the whole width of the body to provide a recess terminating at each end with shoulder members formed by the portion of the body of greatest height, a pair of opposing members Within said recess to form the smaller portion and providing a slot between them disposed centrally of said body and extending longitudinally thereof to receive an article of jewelry to be displayed, the difference in height between said portions being sufficient to afford a space for accommodating the top portion of the article to be held in the slot so that when the article is so held the top portion thereof will extend upwardly no higher than the top of said portions of the body of greatest height.

WILLIAM HENRY GERTH. 

